Convertible picnic box

ABSTRACT

A picnic kit made up of a tabletop, which, along with the outer of two benches forms a case containing an inner bench with a rack on the bottom where table legs are stored as well as a tray for storing cooking utensils, dishes, silverware and food or the like.

llnited States Patent Inventor George W. Stadig 331 W. Main St., Tilton, NE. 03276 Appl. No. 835,954

Filed June 24, 1969 Patented Nov. 2, 1971 CONVERTIBLE PICNIC BOX 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

llnt. Cl ..A47b 83/00,

Field of Search 312/241,

240, 237, 235, 266-270, 277, 244, 257, 262; 108/111 T, 18, 19, 34, 38,25;224/42.1;31l/l6.5; 297/135, 140

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,349,634 8/1920 Stern 312/235 1,501,440 7/1924 Dana 312/235 UX 1,590,586 6/1926 McDonald.. 312/235 X 2,524,198 10/1950 LaRue l08/34X Primary Examiner- Paul R. Gilliam ABSTRACT: A picnic kit made up of a tabletop, which, along with the outer of two benches forms a case containing an inner bench with a rack on the bottom where table legs are stored as well as a tray for storing cooking utensils, dishes, silverware and food or the like.

PATENTEDuov 2 \sn .INVENTOR GEORGE W. STADIG CONVERTIBLE PICNIC BOX This invention relates generally to picnic equipment. More specifically it relates to a picnic box convertible to a picnic table and seats.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a picnic box that is readily convertible to a picnic table and table seats, and which, when in a collapsed position, can be readily transported in a compact and convenient manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a picnic box comprised of a collapsible tabletop, a plurality of table legs and two benches which serve as seats for the table.

Yet a further object is to provide a picnic box which further contains a tray for the purpose of storing cooking dishes, utensils, silverware and the like, and a space for storing a camp stove of the gas or gasoline variety.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a picnic box which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the various component parts of the picnic box 26, 24, 30, 32 and 20, revealing how each drops into position to form one compact unit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the recessed cabinet lock 18 and lock hasp 19.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of how the lock hasps 19 on the exterior ends of panels 12 and 13 of table top 20 fit into recessed locks 18 in panel 14 to hold entire unit together.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numerals l4, l and 16 represents the back, left end and right end of a rectangle. This forms an outer bench or table seat 32 into which the inner bench 30 above, similarly made up of panels 33, 34 and 35 is snugly receivable, thus forming a double back and double end walls of the rectangle. Numerals 13, 12 and 15 represent the top, bottom and front of said rectangle, also forming a table top 20, made up of two end panels, enjoined to an intermediate panel by means of two piano hinges 21, 22. Convenient carrying handles 11 and 17 are secured to the outside ends of the exterior bench, panels and 16. Top and bottom recesses chest locks 18 and lock hasps 19 are provided in the center of panel 14 which interlock into recessed fasteners in the front edge of panels 12 and 13 and hold the box together.

The panels may be made of plywood and are provided with appropriate pipe flanges 23, near the four extreme corners, into which lengths of pipe may be screwed, to form the table legs, 24, are stored in a rack 25 made up of two cleats, fastened to the base of the inside bench, with a hole at one end and a slot at the other, alternating along each cleat to allow each of the four legs to be conveniently stored in the rack.

A tray 26, as shown in FIG. 1, of the drawing, includes compartments 27, 28 and 29 for the purpose of storing cooking utensils, dishes, silverware and the like. It is L-shaped and includes a recessed portion 31, under one end thereof so as to allow storage space for a camp stove.

ln operative use, the tabletop may be laid out flat, the legs screwed into the pipe flanges on the four comers, then, set upright on the legs, and the two benches 30 32, the one taken out from inside the other, form seats for each side of the table, on which persons may sit for eating or playing games, etc.

Thus, there has been provided a picnic box which is readily adaptable for being conveniently transported to a picnic area and readily converted into picnic furniture. It will be further understood, that the tray, when laid on its side, can also be used as a stand upon which a camp stove may be placed.

What I now claim is:

1. A picnic box assembly, comprising in combination, a picnic table, a pair of benches and a tray, all of which are designed to snugly fit together to form a compact transportable unit, said picnic table being comprised of a tabletop with four removable legs, said tabletop including a central rectangular panel between a pair of rectangular panels, said panels bein attached (pivotally together by means of hinges there etween, sai tabletop at its corners being provided with internally threaded fittings on the underside thereof for threadingly engaging an externally threaded end on each of said legs, and opposite end of each of said legs being fitted with a cap, each of said benches comprising a rectangular top wall, a pair of opposite end walls and one sidewall, one of said benches being slightly smaller than the other so as to be readily snugly receivable within the other, an outer one of said benches being provided with a carrying handle on the outerside of each opposite end wall, the inner of said benches hav' ing a cleat secured to an innserside of each of said end walls, each of said cleats being notched so to support the opposite ends of said legs removably retained between said cleats, said tray comprising a member open at its upper end for access to a plurality of compartments, said tray being snugly receivable within the smaller of said benches; and the larger of said benches being provided with a pair of locks, each one of said locks being positioned along a center of an opposite longitudinal edge of said top wall, and said tabletop being provided with a pair of lock hasps, each one of said lock hasps being secured on an underside of said tabletop and located along a center of a longitudinal edge of each of said side panels which forms an outer edge of said tabletop is fitted around said larger bench with one said end panel of said tabletop being positioned adjacent the outerside of said sidewall of said larger bench, said lock hasps can be engaged within said locks. 

1. A picnic box assembly, comprising in combination, a picnic table, a pair of benches and a tray, all of which are designed to snugly fit together to form a compact transportable unit, said picnic table being comprised of a tabletop with four removable legs, said tabletop including a central rectangular panel between a pair of rectangular panels, said panels being attached pivotally together by means of hinges therebetween, said tabletop at its corners being provided with internally threaded fittings on the underside thereof for threadingly engaging an externally threaded end on each of said legs, and opposite end of each of said legs being fitted with a cap, each of said benches comprising a rectangular top wall, a pair of opposite end walls and one sidewall, one of said benches being slightly smaller than the other so as to be readily snugly receivable within the other, an outer one of said benches being provided with a carrying handle on the outerside of each opposite end wall, the inner of said benches having a cleat secured to an innserside of each of said end walls, each of said cleats being notched so to support the opposite ends of said legs removably retained between said cleats, said tray comprising a member open at its upper end for access to a plurality of compartments, said tray being snugly receivable within the smaller of said benches; and the larger of said benches being provided with a pair of locks, each one of said locks being positioned along a center of an opposite longitudinal edge of said top wall, and said tabletop being provided with a pair of lock hasps, each one of said lock hasps being secured on an underside of said tabletop and located along a center of a longitudinal edge of each of said side panels which forms an outer edge of said tabletop is fitted around said larger bench with one said end panel of said tabletop being positioned adjacent the outerside of said sidewall of said larger bench, said lock hasps can be engaged within said locks. 